Disposable enema unit

ABSTRACT

A one-piece sealed disposable enema unit with a lubricated rectal tip is disclosed. The rectal tip of the unit is sealed with a break-off tab. Attached to the tab is a sleeve which covers the exterior of the the rectal tip and prevents contamination of the lubricant. Before use, the break-off tab must be twisted off and the tab with the attached sleeve removed. Therefore, the unit is tamper proof and security of the contents is insured.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 579,183,filed Feb. 10, 1984 now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to medical apparatus and, in particular, todisposable enema units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional disposable enema units consist of a flexible bottle madeout of plastic or other material containing an appropriate liquid. Thebottle is closed with a screw cap which has an elongated rectal tip thatis generally lubricated to ease insertion. Preventing the lubricant onthe rectal tip and and the enema fluid from becoming contaminated is ofprimary importance in the safety and ease of use in such an enema unit.

One prior art approach to to maintaining sterility of the enema fluid isto utilize a rubber diaphragm mounted in the screw-on cap. The diaphragmcontains a slit which allows the enema fluid to exit from the bottle yetmaintains a satisfactory seal to inhibit contaminants from entering thebottle and contaminating the fluid.

Conventionally, the lubricant on the rectal tip is protected by means ofa removable sleeve which covers the tip before the unit is used. Thesleeve is an elongated tube which is closed at one end. At the closedend, there is mounted a finger which extends inside the sleeve. The endof the rectal tip is constricted and engages the finger to hold thesleeve in place by friction. Before use, the sleeve is pulled off therectal tip exposing the lubricant.

One problem with the conventional approach for protecting the enemafluid and lubricant is that the unit is not positively sealed so thatany pressure on the bottle causes leakage of the enema fluid past thediaphragm slit, in turn, causing contamination and inconvenience. Inaddition, contraction of the fluid in the bottle due to temperaturevariations can draw contaminants into the bottle. Further, thetip-protecting sleeve is easily detached and can come loose duringshipping or in storage allowing contaminants to reach the tip lubricant.

In addition the prior art unit is not tamper proof because it ispossible to remove the sleeve, insert contaminants and then replace thesleeve without leaving any readily visible signs of improper entry. Toguard against this problem prior art units are normally sold in a sealedcontainer, an expedient which increases the cost of the units.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an enemaunit which is completely sealed to prevent contaminants from reachingthe enema fluid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an enema unitwhich cannot be opened without physically and visibly breaking the unitso that contaminants cannot be introduced undetectably.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a coveringfor the lubricant on the rectal tip which covering cannot come off instorage or in shipping, yet is easily removed for use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an enema unitwhich is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an enemaunit which can be easily opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects are achieved and the foregoing problems are solvedin one illustrative embodiment of the invention in which a disposableenema unit comprises a sealed bottle. The rectal tip of the unit ispositively sealed by a break-off tab which can be twisted to remove itfrom the rectal tip and expose the opening.

A protective sleeve is attached to the break-off tab which covers therectal tip and its lubricant during shipping of storage preventingcontamination. The sleeve and the break-off tab are removed by twistingprior to use exposing the lubricant and simultaneously opening thebottle.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a prior art disposable enema unit.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the illustrative disposable enema unit withits protective sleeve removed.

FIG. 3 of the drawing shows a portion of the rectal tip of the inventiveenema unit with the protective sleeve in place.

FIG. 4 of the drawing shows a portion of the enema bottle with theprotective sleeve shrunk to engage the break off tab.

FIG. 5 of the drawing shows a user twisting the break-off tab to removeit.

FIG. 6 of the drawing shows the illustrative enema unit with thebreak-off tab and protective sleeve removed.

FIG. 7 of the drawing shows a front elevation of the alternateembodiment of the protective sleeve attached to the enema unit.

FIG. 8 of the drawing shows a side elevation of the alternate embodimentof the protective sleeve.

FIG. 9 of the drawing shows a bottom view of the alternate embodiment ofthe protective sleeve.

FIG. 10 of the drawing shows a user twisting the alternate embodiment ofthe sleeve to remove it.

FIG. 11 of the drawing shows the illustrative enema unit with thealternate embodiment of the protective sleeve removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a prior art disposable enema unit consistingof a plastic bottle 1 with a screw cap 2. Screw cap 2 has an elongatedrectal tip 3 which is coated with a suitable lubricant. The rectal tip 3has a cylindrical passage therein to allow passage of the enema fluid.The end of the rectal tip 3 has a constricted ring 7 which engages afinger 6 on protective sleeve 5. Before use, the user removes protectivesleeve 5 by pulling upwards causing finger 6 to disengage from ring 7.The disposable enema unit shown in FIG. 1 is typically fitted withsterile fluid. Since the engagement between finger 6 and ring 7 must beweak enough to permit easy removal of sleeve 5, as previously described,sleeve 5 often is disengaged during shipping or handling causingspillage of the enema fluid. Cap 2 has a restrictive diaphragm locatedin the screw on portion. The diaphragm is usually comprised of aresilient material having a slit therein to restrict passage of theenema fluid. When the unit is in use, external pressure on the bottleforces fluid past the diaphragm.

FIG. 2 of the drawing shows the inventive one-piece enema unit. Itconsists of a bottle portion 10 and a rectal tip 15. Rectal tip 15 andportion 10 may be molded in one piece or may be separate pieces whichare joined by suitable and conventional means (such as adhesives) afterfilling of the enema fluid.

At the top of rectal tip 15 is a break-off tab 20 consisting of aspherical ball 20 which is mounted on the top of rectal tip 15. Ball 20is of such diameter so that it completely encloses the circular passagethrough tip 15 (not shown in FIG. 1) preventing spillage of the fluid.Ball 20 may be molded as part of tip 15 with a suitable wall thicknessto allow it to be easily removed by twisting. Ball 20 is provided withears 22 and 24 to allow the ball to be gripped and removed.

During manufacture of the enema unit, tip 15 is coated with a suitablelubricant and a sleeve 30 is slid over the unit as shown in FIG. 3. Thissleeve is formed of a heat-shrinkable plastic material which is thenheated to the shrinking temperature by conventional means causing it toconform to the ball and rectal tip as shown in FIG. 4. After sleeve 30has become heat shrunk it is effectively fixed to ball 20 and thereby tothe rectal tip 15. Sleeve 30 therefore protects the lubricant againstcontamination while ball 20 prevents contamination of the sterile enemafluid.

Another embodiment of the protective sleeve which covers the rectal tipis shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, the protective sleevecomprises a generally barrel-shaped sleeve 31 which tapers toward thetop so that the top portion of the sleeve 31 covers only the ball 20 anda small part of the ears 22, 24 where they connect with the ball 20.This arrangement protects the ball 20 from being dislodged by accidentalimpacts. A pair of diametrically-opposed vertical members 32 formed bylateral slits 34, 35 are located on the sides of the sleeve 31. Aboveeach lateral member 32 is a rectangular opening 36 which is continuouswith the lateral slits 34, 35. As the sleeve 31 is pushed over therectal tip 15, the ears 22, 24 force the lateral members 32 outward andthe members 32 snap inward when the ears 22, 24 reach the openings 36,thus preventing removal by pulling but allowing opening of the bottle bytwisting. As shown in FIG. 7, the ears 22, 24 protrude through theopenings 36 and rest on the members 32 when the sleeve 31 is attached tothe unit. As shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment there are four ribs 37on the inside of the sleeve 31. The ribs 37 are equally spaced at 90degree intervals and extend upwardly from the bottom of the sleeve 31 toa location slightly higher than the bottom of the members 32. Ribs 37separate the sleeve 31 from the rectal tip 15 so that the lubricantthereon is not contaminated. Ribs 37 also orient the sleeve 31 as it isslid onto the unit by guiding the ears 22, 24 to the openings 36. Thesleeve in this embodiment is formed separately from the remainder of theenema unit by injection molding and may subsequently be easily attachedthereto.

The unit is opened by twisting ball 20 as shown in FIG. 5. This actioncauses ball 20 to disengage from rectal tip 15, opening the enema fluidpassage. Sleeve 30 is then lifted with captured ball 20 and ears 22 and24 off the unit and discarded and the unit is ready for use, as shown inFIG. 6.

With the preferred configuration it is not possible to easily physicallygain access to either the lubricant or the enema fluid without firstbreaking off ball tab 20. Since this operation physically and visuallybreaks the package and since the tab cannot be replaced, any improperentry into the package will be readily detectable by examining theintegrity of the ball tab. Thus, the package is essentially tamperproof.

Although only one illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosedherein other modifications which are within the spirit and scope of theinvention will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art. Forexample, the shape of ball 20 and tabs 22 and 24 may be changed to otherconfigurations without violating the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disposable enema unit comprising:a fluidreceptacle adapted to be filled with sterile enema fluid; a rectal tiphaving one end connected to said receptacle and a passage therethroughcommunicating with the interior of said bottle for allowing exit offluid from said receptacle; a break-off tab connected to the other endof said rectal tip, said break-off tab completely sealing said passageto prevent contamination of said fluid; and a protective sleeve attachedto said break-off tab covering said rectal tip when said break-off tabis attached to said rectal tip and coming away from said rectal tip whenthe break-off tab is removed.
 2. A disposable enema unit in accordancewith claim 1 further comprising projecting means attached to saidbreak-off tab to permit said break-off tab to be gripped and twisted offfrom said rectal tip.
 3. A disposable enema unit in accordance withclaim 2 wherein said rectal tip is lubricated.
 4. A disposable enemaunit in accordance with claim 3 wherein said break-off tab comprises aspherical center portion removably affixed to said other end of saidrectal tip.
 5. A disposable enema unit in accordance with claim 4wherein said projecting means comprises at least one ear portionattached to said center portion to allow said center portion to begripped and twisted.
 6. A disposable enema unit in accordance with claim5 wherein said sleeve is comprised of a heat shrinkable material.
 7. Adisposable enema unit comprising:a bottle adapted to be filled withsterile enema fluid; a rectal tip having an elongated substantiallyconical shape having the base end connected to said bottle and a passagetherethrough communicating with the interior of said bottle for allowingexit of fluid from said bottle; a spherical break-off tab connected tothe apex of said rectal tip, the diameter of said spherical tab beingsufficient to completely seal said passage to prevent contamination ofsaid fluid; a lubricant disposed on the exterior of said rectal tip; aprotective sleeve attached to said break-off tab covering the exteriorof said rectal tip and said lubricant when said break-off tab isattached to said tip.
 8. A disposable enema unit in accordance withclaim 7 further comprising a pair of ears attached to said break-off tabin a diametrically opposed relationship to allow said tab to be grippedand twisted.
 9. A disposable enema unit in accordance with claim 8wherein said sleeve is comprised of a heat shrinkable material.
 10. Asleeve for use with a disposable enema unit, comprising a generallybarrel-shaped frame which tapers towards the top and a pair ofdiametrically-opposed vertical members formed as an integral part ofsaid barrel-shaped frame by slits in said barrel-shaped frame, each saidvertical member located below an opening sized so that an ear of a tipof a disposable enema unit may protrude therethrough.
 11. A sleeve inaccordance with claim 10 wherein said sleeve further comprises aplurality of vertically extending ribs located on the inside of saidsleeve.
 12. A sleeve in accordance with claim 10 wherein said sleevefurther comprises four vertically extending ribs located on the insideof said sleeve.
 13. A sleeve in accordance with claims 11 or 12 whereinsaid ribs are spaced at equal intervals around the inner circumferenceof the sleeve.
 14. A sleeve in accordance with claims 11 or 12 whereinsaid ribs extend from the bottom of said sleeve to a location slightlyhigher than the bottom of said vertical members.
 15. A disposable fluiddispenser including a fluid receptacle and a closure means integrallyengaged with said receptacle and having a passage therein communicatingwith the interior of said receptacle, said closure means including abreak-off tab having projecting means to permit said break-off tab to bemoved relative to other portions of said closure means to break awaytherefrom and form an external opening through said closure means tosaid passage whereby fluid in said receptacle may be removed;a sleeve atleast partially enclosing said closure means and having a portionthereof engaging said projecting means such that movement of said sleevewill cause said break-off tab to move correspondingly therewith and whenmoved a selected distance will cause said break-off tab to break away.16. A dispenser as set forth in claim 15 wherein said sleeve is coaxialwith said break off-tab and is adapted to be rotated about its axis tocause said break-off tab to break away.